The Sims 2 Troubleshooting (NEW thread)

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

I've started this new thread due to reoccuring problems with the old Sims 2 Troubleshooting thread.

Feel free to post here or start your own thread.

Diezel2 · Joined: Oct 31, 2006 Posts: 2

Hey, nice forum BTW but i have a question about sims 2, because i''ve downloaded it and, mounted the .ISO files with Deamon tools, and added a crack to it, but then when i click the .EXE file i get a SIMS 2 splash screen, and the screen becomes dark (i thought he worked) and than, the screen stays black and i can move my mouse, but he didnt work...

ive reinstalled it a few times, but the same problem..

u guys can i help me, i'm sure

greetz

Diezel

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

Hello Diezel2 and welcome to Lockergnome!

The gnomies of Lockergnome don't offer support for illegal copies of games as per the terms of service of this site.
If you like the game and want to play the game then buy the game.

fahmy · Joined: Nov 29, 2006 Posts: 3

Hi, I have a problem installing the sims 2. My system meets all the requirements for the game. A few seconds into the installation, this message appears:

A problem occurred when trying to transfer the file 'E:\Support\sv\l?smig.txt' from the media. Do you want to copy file or cancel installation?

Since the file cannot be copied the installation is not possible. I checked for the file in question and it is a swedish txt file: 'lasmig.txt' with two dots on top of the 'a'

I also tried the following:

1. The installation works fine on another computer. On my computer it doesn't - and I have two dvd drives that work fine for everything else (I tried installing on each of them). I also tried copying the files from the DVD to my computer and installing the game from there and it gives me the same transfer error. This rules out the possibility that the DVD is scratched or has an error at least.

2. I cancelled all background tasks while installing and there is only one file that remains to run despite my efforts to shut it down: wscntfy.exe (I think it's a service pack file

3. I emptied the Temp folders but some files refuse to be deleted - these are:
a- one is simply called '968' with no extension in a folder called 'hsperfdata_SYSTEM' (I have Kaspersky anti virus - could it be that?)
b- the others are tmp files of the variety ~DFE###.tmp

4. I made sure that there are absolutely no viruses or spyware on my computer. I also defragmented the drives and cleaned them up.

5. I closed the anti-virus program Kaspersky while installing, and all other antispyware and antihackers. I uninstalled the emulater device which created a virtual drive. Should I uninstall antivirus programs completely to play the game??

6. I installed the 'safedisk update'. I also changed the DMA transfer mode to PIO mode as instructed by EA tech support. Didn't work either.

7. I changed the name of the installshield folder to install shield old and I still got the transfer error.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is my system:

Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INC.
System Model: MS-6728
BIOS: Version 1.00
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 307MB used, 3656MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 4.2 GB
Total Space: 20.0 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: Maxtor 6Y120M0

Drive: D:
Free Space: 13.9 GB
Total Space: 97.2 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: Maxtor 6Y120M0

Drive: G:
Model: HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8162B
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.2180 (English), 8/3/2004 21:59:52, 49536 bytes

Drive: E:
Model: Imation IMWDVRW16LI
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.2180 (English), 8/3/2004 21:59:52, 49536 bytes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Help would be greatly appreciated, this is so frustrating.

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

Hello fahmy and welcome to lockergnome!

It sounds like your drives are having a problem reading the disk.
Have you tried updating the firmware of the drives?
Have you tried installing a different DVD drive in your PC?

fahmy · Joined: Nov 29, 2006 Posts: 3

Thank you and thanks for the quick response. I updated the firmware of the drives and it still didn't work. The next step is to install a different drive. But this is really ridiculous...I mean shouldn't games be designed to be installed easily for a start?

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

I understand your frustration I had a similar frustrating time trying to get my DVD drive to read the FarCry disk. It would read every other disk except that one and that was even after I got a replacement disk. I borrowed an external drive from work and the disk worked first time.
It's unusual for two drives in the same PC not to read the disk but you've done just about everything else you can do except buying another copy of the game.

ABCD · Joined: Nov 29, 2006 Posts: 2

hey guys, i need help downloading the Sims 2: Pets... i download the sims 2 and it works fine and i can play it and everything... but then i go to install sims 2 pets and at the very end after going all the way to 100% it says that Sims 2 was not properly installed and to install or reinstall it. and it doesnt make sense! ive tryed everything i can think of, not that im great with computers... but still i need help! Crying or Very sad

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

Hello ABCD and welcome to Lockergnome!

Is this a downloaded copy from a P2P/Torrent/File sharing site?

fahmy · Joined: Nov 29, 2006 Posts: 3

Ok, I FINALLY managed to install this game. I tried everything to no avail. The problem was that there was a file in the support section that refused to be transferred onto my computer specifically for some reason. After many days of agony I decided to work my way around it through a simple trial. I copied all the files from the dvd to my computer to begin with. I then DELETED that endlessly annoying support file from the folder into which I copied the dvd. I then ran the installation from the copied files and it worked!! After I installed the game, I simply copied the same file from the dvd into the INSTALLED game directory and the game works just fine (uptill now). Twisted Evil

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

Glad you got it working, enjoy the game! Smile

marrel · Joined: Dec 15, 2006 Posts: 4

Hey!

I have a problem with Sims 2. I got it installed very nicely, but when I try to run it an error message appears "Failed to initialize Direct3D. Please make sure DirectX 9.0c has been installed on this system. The application will now terminate."
I have tried to find a solution for this problem from different forums (this one included) and nothing helps. I have reinstalled Sims2, DirectX 9.0c, new drivers for my graphics card and I tried this Patch thing. The patch helped me so much that it seems the program is opening and the board with Sims 2 logo opens and then the error message shows up again. Also, I did all the the tests to see if my graphic card works properly and I had absolutely no problems with the tests.

Here is the information about my computer:

Operating System: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600)

Processor: 1,60 gigahertz AMD Sempron
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Drives: 81,95 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
13,82 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

System Model: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. K8V-MX

Main Circuit Board: Board: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. K8V-MX Rev 1.XX
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 1009.005 09/20/2005

Memory Modules: 512 Megabytes Installed Memory

Display: RADEON 9200 PRO (Omega 3.8.252) [Display adapter]
RADEON 9200 PRO Secondary (Omega 3.8.252) [Display adapter]
(on the box is writte RADEON 9250 Confused

)

Multimedia: Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller

I really-really hope you can help me. Please.

Mari

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

Hello marrel and welcome to Lockergnome!

Have you tried removing your graphics card drivers with driver cleaner and then installing the latest ATI driver?

marrel · Joined: Dec 15, 2006 Posts: 4

Hey!

No, I haven't tried this and I don't know how to do it. Maybe you can explain me? Very Happy

Thanks

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

First of all try installing the latest motherboard chipset drivers. These drivers are available from the PC manufacturer or from the motherboard manufacturer.
If that doesn't work then download the ATI drivers from the ATI website and download Driver Cleaner.
Install Driver Cleaner > Uninstall existing drivers via add/remove programs > rebbot > run Driver Cleaner (read readme file for details) > reboot and then install the latest drivers.

marrel · Joined: Dec 15, 2006 Posts: 4

Hey!

Thanks for the advice, but nothing seems to work Sad

I tried installing motherboard drivers and driver cleanup and reinstalling ATI drivers. Nothing.

Ou well,
Merry Christmas

Mari

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

Hi,

Download and install the latest version of DirectX 9.0c.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.mspx

pinklady89 · Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 3

when I try to run the game, it keeps saying, "Please insert the correct CD-ROM, select OK and restart application." Do you know what I am doing wrong/how to fix it?

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5058 Location: UK

Hello pinklady89 and welcome to Lockergnome!

The problem you're experiencing can be caused by a few things, but first things to try would be to make sure your logged in as an administrator, make sure that compatiblity mode is disabled, close all unncessary background tasks, empty your temp file folders and install the latest patch which is available from EA's website or various gaming related sites around the internet. Check EA support articles for details on background tasks.
If the game still doesn't work try putting the CD/DVD into another drive if you have one, disable or uninstall CD/DVD emulation software such as Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools, Clone CD etc.
I've also had some success with changing the transfer mode of the drive to PIO only, this can be done through Device Manager and updating the firmware of the drive which is available from the manufacturers website.

pinklady89 · Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 3

I've tried everything but changing to PIO, and it still won't run. How do I change to PIO?